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m 


MAYWOOD. 


Organized   under  Special  Act  of  the   Legislature  of  Illinois, 
Approved  April  6,   1869. 


^ 


\ 


BUSIT>rESS    OFir-lCE: 
No.    15    MietliocUst    Cliixi'cli    Bloelc, 

Corner  of  Clark  and  Washington  Streets, 
CHICAGO. 


MATWOOD. 


Organized  under  Special  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois. 


iuctois. 


W.  T    NICHOLS. 
R.  B.  BARNEY. 
A.  S.  EATON. 


H.  O.  GIFFORD. 
A.  M.  MOOR. 
P.  S.  PEAKE. 


J.  P.  WILLARD. 


xt$i&tnt. 


W.  T.  NICHOLS, 


reasortr. 


I- 

P.   S.   PEAKE. 


mtcxtint^. 

J.  P.  WILLARD. 


CHICAGO: 

REPUBLICAN    JOB    PRINTING   CO.,    93   WASHINGTON   ST. 
1869. 


A.isr  ^OT 

TO  INCORPORATE  THE  MAYWOOD  COMPANY. 


Section  1.  Be  it  enaeted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the 
General  Assembly :  That  W.  T.  Nichols,  R.  B.  Barney,  A.  S.  Eaton,  H.  O.  Gifibrd, 
A.  M.  Moor,  P.  S.  Peake  and  J.  P.  Willard,  their  associates,  successors  and 
assigns,  are  hereby  constituted  a  body  politic  and  corporate,  by  the  name  of  the 
Maywood  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  laud  in  the  township  of 
Proviso,  in  Cook  County,  Illinois,  and  improving  the  same,  as  a  suburban  village, 
by  shade  trees,  parks,  drainage,  and  buildings  of  all  classes,  for  educational, 
religious,  residence,  manufacturing,  mercantile  and  other  purposes,  and  by  that 
name  may  sue  and  be  sued,  may  have  a  common  seal,  and  the  same  alter  at 
pleasure  ;  may  purchase,  hold,  lease,  mortgage,  alienate,  sell  and  convey  real 
and  personal  estate,  and  generally  have  and  exercise  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  corporations,  for  the  purpose  of  improving,  benefiting,  beautifying  and 
developing  the  said  village  of  Maywood. 

Sec.  2.  The  capital  stock  of  said  company  shall  not  be  less  than  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  nor  more  than  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  divided  into 
shares  of  one  thousand  dollars  each,  transferable  as  the  by-laws  shall  direct,  and 
each  share  shall  entitle  the  owner  thereof  to  one  vote  in  all  stockholders'  meetings, 
either  in  person  or  by  attorney. 

Sec.  3.  The  officers  of  the  company  shall  be  a  President,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  seven  Directors,  and  such  other  agents  as  the  by-laws  shall  prescribe. 
The  Directors  shall  be  chosen  annually  by  the  stockholders,  at  their  annual 
meeting,  to  be  holden  at  the  oflSce  of  the  company,  in  Chicago,  on  the  first 
Thursday  in  January  of  each  year,  and  the  corporators  named  in  section  one 
shall  be  the  Directors  till  others  are  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting  in  1870. 
The  Directors  shall  appoint  the  President  and  Treasurer  from  their  own  number. 

Sec.  4.  Said  company  shall  not  contract  any-debts  till  at  least  ten  thousand 
dollars  shall  have  been  paid  upon  its  capital  stock,  no  part  of  which  shall  be 
withdrawn,  and  shall  not  have  power  at  any  time  to  contract  debts  to  a  greater 
amount  than  one-half  its  capital,  and  for  any  excess  beyond  that  amount  the 
stockholders  shall  be  personally  liable. 

Sec.  5.  All  lands  purchased  shall  be  conveyed  to  the  Maywood  Company, 
and  all  conveyances  by  the  company  shall  be  signed,  executed  and  acknowledged 
by  the  President  of  the  company  in  his  official  capacity. 


Sec.  6.  The  by-laws  of  the  company  shall  be  adopted,  altered  or  amended  by 
the  stockholders  at  their  annual  meeting,  but  the  Directors  herein  named  may 
adopt  a  code  of  by-laws  for  the  management  of  the  company,  which  shall  be  in 
force  until  others  are  adopted  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders. 

Sec.  7.  This  act  may  be  altered,  amended  or  repealed  as  the  public  good  shall 
require,  and  shall  take  effect  from  its  passage. 

F.  CORWIN, 
Speaken'  of  tlie  House  of  Representatives. 

J.  DOUGHERTY, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 
Approved  April  6th,  18G9. 

JOHN  M.  PALMER, 

Governor. 


Uhited  States  op  America,  ) 

;-  ss.  Office  of  Secreta/ry. 

State  of  Illinois.  ) 

I,  Edward  Rummel,  Secretary  of  State  of  Illinois,  do  hereby  certify  that  the 
foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  an  act  to  incorporate  the  Maywood  Company, 
approved  April  6th,  1869,  now  on  file  in  this  office.  In  witness  whereof  I  hereto 
set  my  hand  and  affix  the  great  seal  of  State,  at  the  city  of  Springfield,  this  6th 
day  of  April,  A.  D.  1869. 

EDWARD  RUMMEL, 

Secretary  of  State- 


& 


BY-LA^TV^S. 


Section  1.  The  capital  stock  shall  be  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  divided 
into  one  hundred  shares  of  one  thousand  dollars  each  share ;  and  each  share  shall 
entitle  the  owner  thereof  to  one  vote  in  all  stockholders'  meetings,  in  person 
or  by  attorney,  and  said  shares  shall  be  transferable  on  the  books  of  the 
company  upon  the  surrender  of  the  certificates  therefor,  duly  assigned. 

Sec.  2.  The  capital  stock  may  be  increased  to  any  amount  not  exceeding 
five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  as  provided  by  the  act  of  incorporation,  upon  the 
vote  of  the  stockholders  representing  four-fifths  of  the  capital  stock. 

Sec.  3.  The  officers  shall  be  a  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer  and  seven 
Directors,  as  provided  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  who  shall  have  the  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  company,  and  the  members  present  at  the  regular 
meetings  of  the  board  shall  be  deemed  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Sec.  4.  The  duties  of  the  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  be  the 
same  as  as  those  of  similar  officers  in  similar  corporations. 

Sec.  5.  All  bills  against  the  company  shall  be  audited  by  the  Board  of 
Directors,  and  no  payments  shall  be  made  except  upon  written  vouchers,  in 
which  dates  and  items  shall  be  specified,  and  all  contracts  shall  be  approved  by 
the  President. 

Sec.  6.  The  seal  of  the  company  shall  be  a  circular  seal,  with  the  following 
words  thereon  :     "  Maywood  Company,  Chicago,  111.,  Corporate  seal." 

Sec.  7.     The  office  of  the  company  shall  be  at  Chicago,  111. 

Sec.  8.  The  Directors  of  the  company  shall  have  power  to  call  a  stock- 
holders' meeting,  by  giving  each  stockholder  notice  thereof,  at  least  ten  days 
prior  thereto,  by  depositing  notices  in  the  post  office,  addressed  to  each  stock- 
holder at  his  residence,  as  appears  of  record  on  the  books  of  the  company. 


Office  of  the  Maywood  Company,  ) 

No.  15  Meth.  Church  Block,  Chicago,  April  13,  1869.  f 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  and  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  by-laws  of 
this  company. 

J.  P.  WILLARD, 


MAYWOOD 


Is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Desplaines  river,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Galena  division  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern 
Railway.  It  is  high,  dry  land,  twenty-seven  feet  above  the  river; 
every  acre  available  for  building  purposes,  with  a  drainage  equal 
to  the  best  lake  shore  property. 

HALF  AN  HOUR  FROM  THE  CITY. 

It  is  in  Cook  county,  five  and  one-half  miles  from  the  city 
limits  of  Chicago,  and  just  ten  miles  from  the  Galena  depot  on 
Wells  street  to  the  centre  of  the  plat.  It  can  be  reached  in  an 
hour  by  carriage  on  Lake  street,  which  extends  through  it,  and  in 
less  than  half  an  hour  by  rail,  thus  bringing  it,  in  point  of  time, 
nearer  the  business  center  of  the  city  than  the  city  limits  by  horse 
cars.  It  is  upon  a  double  track  railroad,  and  more  than  thirty 
trains  pass  it  each  way  daily — being  upon  the  direct  East  and  West 
line,  over  which  the  great  through  business  between  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  will  pass,  upon  the  completion  of  the  Pacific  Railroad, 
now  so  nearly  done.  It  is  confessedly  one  of  the  most  desirable 
points  for  building  within  easy  access  of  the  business  of  Chicago. 

DEPOT  ON  THE  PROPERTY. 

The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  Company  have 
entered  into  a  written  agreement  to  build  a  depot  upon  the  land 
and  have  put  in  side-tracks,  to  facilitate  getting  freight  to  May- 
wood,  and  begun  building  the  depot,  which  will  soon  be  completed, 


thus  parties  will  be  assured  that  the  means  of  reaching  the  point 
and  returning  regularly  and  rapidly  are  certain.  Parties  interested 
in  the  enterprise  will  begin  building  operations  on  it  early  this 
spring,  and  it  is  confidently  hoped  tliat  not  less  than  thirty  resi- 
dences will  be  erected  upon  the  property,  during  the  year  1869,  by 
the  company  and  its  stockholders. 

SURROUNDINGS. 

On  the  east  bank  are  the  thriving  villages  of  Harlem  and 
Thatcher,  containing  a  population  of  nearly  two  thousand,  and 
haying  good  schools,  churches  and  elegant  residences.  On  the 
same  side  as  Harlem,  and  south  of  it,  is  a  great  natural  park, 
opposite  a  portion  of  the  tract  in  question,  and  still  further  south, 
on  the  same  side,  is  Riverside — all  within  view  and  but  short 
distances  away. 

SCENERY. 

The  river  aiFords  fine  facilities  for  boating,  bathing  and  fishing 
and,  in  the  winter  months,  fine  skating  and  sleighing.  It  is 
skirted  for  miles  with  a  timber  growth,  and  groves  in  the  distance, 
together  with  the  graceful  curves  of  timber  along  the  river  bank, 
give  this  tract  a  sheltered  location  and  picturesque  aspect. 

AMOUNT  OF   LAND. 

The  plat  contains  something  over  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
lying  along  the  river,  a  parallelogram  in  form,  except  about  thirty 
acres,  but  not  upon  the  river  at  any  point,  as  a  street  passes  along 
its  east  front  and  the  railway  passes  through  it  less  than  half  a  mile 
from  its  north  side.  , 

STREETS. 

This  spring  the  whole  tract  will  be  opened  up  by  avenues  and 
streets,  sixty-six  feet  wide,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.    The 


deeds  of  lots  will  contain  a  condition  that  no  buildings  shall  be 
erected  upon  the  avenues  within  seventeen  feet  of  the  line,  thus 
making  them  one  hundred  feet  between  buildings.  The  streets 
and  avenues  will  have  an  aggregate  length  of  twenty-four  miles. 
The  avenues  run  north  and  south,  and  will  be  designated  by 
numbers.  The  streets  run  east  and  west,  and  will  be  designated 
by  letters  ;  thus  producing  a  system  by  which  any  locality  in  the 
whole  tract  can  be  found  from  any  known  starting  point. 

TREES. 

A  double  row  of  trees  will  be  planted  this  spring  along  all 
the  avenues  and  streets.  It  will  require  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
thousand  trees  to  accomplish  this  part  of  the  undertaking,  and 
the  varieties  will  be  mainly  elm,  maple,  oak  and  ash.  While  it 
will  cost  many  thousand  dollars  to  plant  out  this  number  of  trees, 
yet,  when  accomplished,  a  tew  years  will  give  the  whole  tract  the 
appearance  of  a  great  park,  and  add  greatly  to  the  comfort  and 
health  of  residents,  and  also  add  to  the  value  of  the  property  to  a 
greater  degree  than  any  equal  expenditure.  Twenty  thousand 
trees  have  been  purchased  and  will  be  on  the  ground  and  set  out 
by  the  last  of  May. 

DRAINAGE. 

The  land  being  twenty-seven  feet  above  the  Desplaines  river, 
gives  a  natural  and  easy  drainage,  hardly  equalled  in  its  advantages; 
but  its  height  above  the  river  is  not  all.  The  tract  is  bisected  by 
ravines,  about  half  a  mile  apart,  running  from  the  west  to  the 
river.  The  avenues  will  cross  these  ravines  at  right  angles  and 
give  a  perfect  drainage  to  the  whole  tract.  Cellars  can  be  dng  to 
any  reasonable  depth,  with  a  certainty  that  they  will  be  dry,  a 
consideration  of  no  small  importance  in  housekeeping; 


10 

SOIL. 

The  surface  soil  is  a  rich  alluvial  deposit,  but  is  underlaid  by  a 
porous  gravelly  sub-soil,  which  aids  the  natural  drainage  to  a  great 
degree  and  adds  to  the  desirableness  of  this  point  for  building 
purposes. 

WATER. 

The  wells  of  water  upon  this  tract,  which  have  been  used  for 
many  years,  show  that  no  locality  surpasses  this  in  the  essential 
element  of  good  water.  It  is  expected,  within  a  reasonable  time, 
to  have  an  artesian  well  which  will  furnish  pure  running  water  for 
a  large  population. 

TAXES. 

Maywood  is  located  in  a  township  where  taxes  have  been  much 
lighter  than  in  many  other  townships,  and  in  all  probability  they 
will  be  light  in  the  future,  as  there  seems  to  be  no  public  necessity 
calling  for  heavy  expenditures.  This  consideration  should  have 
some  influence  with  parties  making  investments. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  average  intelligence,  enterprise  and  permanent  prosperity 
of  any  community  can  safely  be  inferred  from  the  care  and  fore- 
thought manifested  in  affording  ample  means  of  education.  To 
establish  and  maintain  good  schools,  and  to  afford  educational 
advantages  of  a  high  order,  will  be  a  concern  of  paramount  import- 
ance to  the  originators  of  this  enterprise.  A  good  school  house 
now  adjoins  the  north-west  corner  of  the  town  plat,  but  a  block 
centrally  located  in  the  town  has  been  set  apart  for  the  erection  of 
a  commodious  and  well  arranged  school  building  the  coming  year. 
It  will  not  be  inferior  in  structure,  appointments  and  convenience 
to  any  in  this  section  of  the  country. 


11 

In  addition,  a  project  is  now  on  foot,  which  will  take  some  time 
to  mature  and  develop,  to  found  and  establish  an  institution  of 
learning,  with  a  competent  corps  of  professors,  and  facilities  for 
boarding  and  accommodating  a  large  number  of  students.  It  is 
not  expected  that  this  can  be  accomplished  at  once,  but  the  primary 
steps  have  already  been  taken,  and  it  is  believed  that  within  a  few 
years,  at  farthest,  Maywood  will  have  an  institution,  permanent  in 
its  character,  and  in  which  its  residents  may  well  take  a  just  pride 
and  interest. 

CHURCHES. 

Liberal  plans  have  been  made  to  aid  and  establish  such  churches 
as  those  who  may  be  residents  shall  desire  to  have  established. 
Eighty  lots  have  been  set  apart  for  that  purpose,  and  the  moneys 
derived  from  their  sale  or  rental  will  be  divided  among  the  first 
four  societies  who  erect  church  buildings.  The  only  condition 
attached  is  that  the  churches  shall  be  on  the  same  street,  centrally 
located,  between  the  north  and  south  portions  of  the  town,  and  all 
front  to  the  north.  This  condition  is  attached  from  no  motives  of 
caprice,  but  because  it  is  believed  that  it  will  add  to  the  convenience 
of  the  societies  themselves,  and  to  the'development,  regularity  and 
beauty  of  the  village. 

PUBLIC  PARK. 

The  ravines  crossing  the  tract  have  already  been  spoken  of. 
Along  the  hill  sides  of  the  northern  one  is  a  fine  grove  of  several 
acres,  which,  as  it  happens  to  occupy  just  the  natural  place  for  a 
park,  will  be  improved  and  ornamented  for  that  purpose,  l^o 
finer  site  can  be  found  within  a  radius  of  twenty  miles  around 
Chicago.  The  railway  on  the  north,  the  Desplaines  river  on  the 
east,  and  the  depot  and  Maywood  hotel  will  adjoin  it  on  the  west. 
The  first  avenue  bridge  will  cross  the  ravine  on  higb  trestle  work, 


12 

so  as  to  give  a  view  to,  and  connect  the  park  with,  the  Des- 
plaines.  An  inland  bay  will  be  made  by  excavating  the  valley 
of  the  ravine  to  the  depth  of  the  river ;  thus  boating  and  skating 
parties  can  start  from  the  center  of  the  park.  Whatever  art  can 
do  to  aid  in  embellishing  and  ornamenting  this  natural  feature  in 
the  landscape  will  be  attempted.  Groves,  walks,  drives,  shrubbery, 
hillside,  valley,  water,  evergreens,  arbors,  swings,  grottoes, 
observatory  and  other  attractions  can  be  combined  to  render  it  a 
favorite  resort  for  parties  and  picnics.  It  will  be  near  the  depot 
and  hotel,  can  be  readily  reached  by  the  cars,  and  when  the  whole 
design  is  carried  out,  no  pleasanter  spot  within  thirty  minutes  of 
the  city  can  be  found. 

HOTEL. 

This  spring  the  company  will  commence  the  erection  of  a 
suitable  hotel,  nearly  opposite  the  depot — which  will  aiford  accom- 
modation to  parties  who  visit  the  property,  and  if  well  kept,  it  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  in  the  summer  months,  it  may  be 
resorted  to  by  families  from  the  city,  who  desire  to  avoid  the  noise, 
heat  and  confusion  of  a  great  city.  Being  so  near  the  depot,, 
parties  can  go  back  and  forth  with  less  time  and  trouble  than  it 
takes  to  reach  points  inside  of  the  city  limits  by  horse  cars.  If 
sufficient  encouragement  is  given,  in  due  time  cottages  will  be 
erected  near  the  hotel,  so  that  families  can  occupy  separate  houses 
and  take  their  meals  at  the  hotel;  thus  having  the  seclusion  and 
comfort  of  private  families,  without  the  care  and  trouble  of 
housekeeping.  Materials  are  being  collected,  the  laborers  engaged, 
and  it  is  hoped  to  have  it  opened  for  guests  by  September  Ist. 

HOUSES. 

The  company  during  the  year,  will  build  from  ten  to  twenty 
houses,  with  the  company's  funds,  which  will  be  offered  for  sale 


13 

when  completed.  Stockholders  in  the  company  will  build  several 
houses  for  their  own  use  and  occupation.  It  is  believed  that  not 
less  than  thirty  houses  will  be  erected  upon  the  property  during 
the  year  by  the  company  and  stockholders. 

MAYWOOD   COMPANY. 

The  company  is  composed  of  parties,  mainly,  who  will  build 
houses  and  reside  at  May  wood.  They  will  have  a  vital  interest 
in  pushing  forward  desirable  improvements,  such  as  schools  and 
churches,  and  in  securing  the  co-operation  of  active,  energetic  and 
respectable  people  as  residents. 

The  stock  is  divided  into  one  hundred  shares,  of  one  thousand 
dollars  each,  and  represents  the  cash  which  has  been,  and  is  to  be 
paid  for  it.  The  stock  is  all  taken,  and  none  is  upon  the  market 
for  sale.  The  company  will  have  the  means  to  carry  out  their  plans. 
The  company  is  organized  under  the  special  act  of  incorporation, 
passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Illinois,  and  approved  April  6,  1869, 
a  copy  of  which  is  set  forth  on  the  first  page,  as  well  as  a  list  of 
the  officers  of  the  company. 

MUTUAL    COMBINATIOK 

The  advantage  which  will  not  fail  to  suggest  itself  to  thinking 
men,  in  reference  to  this  enterprise,  is,  that  each  one  has  an 
interest  in  a  combined  organization,  to  carry  out  a  purpose,  which, 
as  single  individuals,  they  could  not  hope  to  accomplish,  and  in 
which  the  success  depends  upon  the  capital,  energy,  and  numbers 
of  those  who  contribute  to  make  it  successful. 

BUILDING   MATEKIAL. 

Good  building  stone  can  be  obtained  not  three  miles  distant 
and  over  good  roads,  at  from  four  to  five  dollars  per  cord. 


14 

Lime  can  be  got  at  the  lime  kilns  at  Lyons,  but  a  few  miles 
distant — hence,  with  stone  and  lime  at  hand,  and  but  ten  miles 
freight,  from  the  largest,  cheapest,  and  best  lumber  market  in  the 
world,  all  the  elements  of  cheapness  in  building  are  secured. 

WHAT   EEASON. 

The  question  may  be  asked,  "What  reason  is  there  that  a 
village  will  spring  up  sufficient  to  warrant  the  company  in 
expending  so  much  money,  as  the  foregoing  plan  contemplates,  or 
sufficient  to  warrant  parties  in  purchasing  lots?"  The  answer  is 
partly  general  and  partly  local.  As  a  general  answer,  it  may  be 
said  that  suburbs  always  exist  around  large  cities,  and  their  size 
and  numbers  depend  upon  the  size  of  the  cities.  As  a  local 
answer  it  may  be  said  that  the  company  base  their  calculations 
upon  the  growth  of  May  wood  upon  two  undeniable  facts:  first, 
it  is  high  and  dry  land,  beautifully  situated;  and,  second,  it  is 
much  nearer  to  the  business  of  the  city,  in  point  of  time,  than  a 
point  three  miles  from  the  court  house,  by  horse  cars.  There  are 
many  considerations  which  will  influence  parties  to  seek  suburban 
homes. 

HEALTH  OF  CHILDEEK 

The  statistics  of  all  cities,  not  only  in  this  country  but  in 
Europe,  demonstrate  as  conclusiyely  as  anything  can  be  demon- 
strated, that  the  mortality  among  children  under  five  years  of  age  is 
immensely  greater  than  among  children  in  the  country.  It  has 
been  claimed  by  some,  that  of  children  born  in  large  cities,  not  one 
in  eight  lives  to  be  five  years  old.  This  statement  seems  impossible 
at  first  thought,  but  a  careful  examination  of  official  reports  will 
satisfy  any  one  that  the  proportion  is  more  nearly  correct  than 
would  seem  possible.  Shut  up  without  pure  air  and  sunlight, 
deprived   mainly  of  freedom  in  the  open  air,  and  breathing  an 


16 

atmosphere  laden  with  the  malaria,  always  festering  and  rising 
from  the  sewers,  slums  and  cess  pools  of  a  great  city;  it  is  not 
strange  that  it  requires  the  vigor  of  maturity  to  live  in  it.  And 
even  for  adults  the  country  air  and  exercise  lends  strength, 
animal  spirits  and  longevity. 

REPOSE,  CHANGE  AND  EXERCISE. 

The  suburban  home  takes  a  man  from  the  noise,  bustle  and 
excitement  of  business,  gives  a  change  of  scene,  thoughts  and 
associations,  and  stimulated  to  exercise  by  the  pure  atmosphere 
and  care  of  his  place,  he  forgets  the  anxiety  and  perplexity  of 
business  and  finds  repose,  both  physical  and  mental.  The  adorn- 
ment of  home  with  flowers,  fruits,  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the  grati- 
fication of  the  tastes  in  rendering  all  the  surroundings  beautiful 
occupy  the  mind  and  drive  out  the  "eternal  thinking"  about 
wares,  ledgers,  and  annoyances  of  business.  These  considerations 
have  been  and  will  be  enough  to  cause  those  of  wealth  and  refined 
tastes  to  seek  the  beauty,  quiet  comfort  and  health  of  the  country ; 
but  to  another  class  it  appeals  from  very  different  motives. 

TO  OWN  A  HOME 

Is,  or  should  be,  the  ambition  of  all.  To  live  in  a  rented  house, 
subject  to  the  caprice  or  extortion  of  another,  with  no  feeling  of 
independence,  no  attachment  for  locality,  no  interest  to  plant, 
beautify  and  ornament,  is  not  only  unsatisfactory  and  unprofitable 
but  is  a  slavery  to  circumstances  from  which  every  prudent  person 
will  escape  at  the  first  opportunity.  The  remark  is  often  made, 
"I  cannot  afford  to  buy  a  house."  A  moment's  reflection  will 
convince  any  man  that  if  he  has  a  family  to  support  he  cannot 
afford  "not  to  own  his  own  house."  The  rent  paid,  annoyances  and 
losses  in  time,  and  the  destruction  of  furniture  by  moving,  would 
in  a  few  years  pay  for  a  better  house  and  vastJy  better  conveni- 


16 

ences  than  a  man  generally  gets  by  renting.     The  same  is  true 
whether  one  lives  in  a  high-priced  or  low-priced  rented  house. 

When  a  man  buys  a  lot  to  build  a  house  he  has  taken  the  first 
step  toward  independence,  and  if  one  is  to  look  around,  it  will  be 
seen  that  those  who  are  landlords  to-day  have  become  such  mainly 
because  they  purchased  real  estate  a  few  years  ago  which  has 
made  them  rich.  It  will  not  avail  anything  to  say,  "  If  I  had 
purchased  ten  years  ago."  The  fact  is,  you  but  do  to-day  what  is 
obviously  for  your  interest,  and  in  ten  years  you  will  occupy  the 
same  relative  position  to  those  who  do  not  improve  the  present 
that  your  landlord  does  to  you  to-day.  Eents  and  lots  will  grow 
higher  each  year.  As  the  city  grows  one  must  go  further  out.  Of 
course  there  will  be  some  checks  and  revulsions,  but  in  the  main 
it  will  be  in  the  future,  and  it  has  been  in  the  past,  a  steady  pro- 
gress. Compare  the  city  of  to-day  with  what  it  was  a  generation 
ago,  and  then  estimate  what  it  is  to  he  by  what  it  is  now. 

Population  of  Chicago  fkom  1829  to  1867. 


1829 35 

1830 49 

1831 73 

1832 428 

1833 370 

1834 1,720 

1835 3,440 

1836 4,100 

1837 4,349 

1838 4,220 

1839 4,440 

1840 4,370 

1841 5,650 

1842 6,800 

1843 7,950 

1844 8,300 

1845 12,210 

1846 14,756 

1847 16,420 

1848 21,200 


1849 23,628 

1850 28,347 

1851 35,200 

1852 39,629 

1853 58,754 

1854 66,361 

1855 79,440 

1856 87,390 

1857 95,600 

1858 84,584 

1859 93,260 

1860 108,247 

1861 122,740 

1862 139,320 

1863 154,710 

1864 171,356 

1865 177,621 

1866 221,000 

1867 255,000 


17 


Valtjation  ajstd  Income. 


The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  valuation  of  city  property 
and  the  income  from  taxes,  from  183Y  to  Oct.  1st,  1868. 


Valuation  of 

Valuation  of  Per- 

Year. 

Real  Estate. 

sonal  Property. 

Total  Valuation. 

Income  from  Taxes. 

1837 

$       236,843 
94,437 

$         236,842 

$           5,905.15 

184© 

94,437 

4,721.85 

1843 

962,331 

$       479,093 

1,441,314 

8,647.80 

1845 

2,273,171 

791,851 

3,065,023 

11,077.58 

1846 

3,664,425 

857,231 

4,521,656 

15,825.80 

1847 

4,995,446 

853,704 

5,849,170 

18,159.01 

1848 

4.998,266 

1,302,174 

6,300,440 

22,051.54 

1849 

5,181,637 

1,495,047 

6,676,684 

30,045.09 

1850 

5,685,965 

1,534,284 

7,330,349 

25,270.87 

1853 

13,130,677 

3.711,154 

16,841,831 

135,662.68 

1855........ 

21.637,500 

5,355  393 

26,992,863 

206,209.03 

1856 

25,892,308 

5,843,776 

31,736,084 

396,652.39 

1860 

31,198,135 

5,855,377 

37,053,512 

373,315.39 

1863 

31,587,545 

5,552,300 

37,139,845 

564,038.06 

1864 

37,148,023 

11,584,759 

48,732,783 

974,655.64 

1865 

44,065,499 

20,644,678 

64,709,077 

1,294,183.54 

1866... 

66,495,116 

19,458,154 

85,953,250 

1,719,064.00 

1868 

174,490,660 

55,756,340 

230,247,000 

3,233,457.85 

Raileoads. 


It  was  in  April,  1849,  that  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  was 
first  heard  on  the  prairies  west  of  Chicago.  The  railroad  system, 
of  which  this  city  is  now  the  center,  embraces  over  five  thousand 
miles  of  track.  A  passenger  train  reaches  or  leaves  the  city  every 
fifteen  minutes  of  the  twenty-four  hours.  IN'ot  less  than  two 
hundred  trains  arrive  or  depart  in  a  day  and  night.  There  are 
sixteen  points  on  the  Mississippi  river  which  have  railroad  commu- 
nication with  Chicago.  It  is  but  fifteen  years  since  the  city  first 
had  railroad  connection  with  the  cities  on  the  Atlantic  coast ;  and 
the  traveler  now  has  his  choice  of  three  main  lines,  which  branch 
out  to  every  important  intermediate  point. 


18 


Statement  of  Cattle  Packed  in  Chicago  fkom  1851  to  1867. 


1851 21,900 

1852 25,400 

1853 24,820 

1854 23,987 

1855 27,729 

1856 25,870 

1857 35,400 

1858 44,700 

1859 52,340 


1860 33,976 

1861 64,629 

1862 60,428 

1863 72,120 

1864 93,724 

1865 99,864 

1866 121,320 

1867 127,210 


In  addition,  during  the  last  few  years,  the  cattle  received  in 
Chicago  from  the  prairies,  and  sent  east  in  various  ways,  have 
averaged  about  one  thousand  per  day. 

The  grain  exports  are  over  fifty  million  bushels  yearly. 

More  than  a  million  of  hogs  are  packed  annually  in  Chicago. 

The  lumber  receipts  at  this  port  for  1868,  were  estimated 
something  over  one  thousand  million  feet. 

The  above  figures  show  something  of  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  Chicago. 

THE  FUTURE. 

The  same  causes  that  have  produced  such  a  city  in  so  short  a 
period,  will  continue  in  the  future,  and  property  near  it,  readily 
accessible,  will  increase  in  the  same  ratio.  It  will  increase  in  the 
future  more  rapidly  than  in  the  past.  That  Chicago  is  to  be  the 
metropolis  of  the  northwest  is  now  a  settled  question,  and  capital 
comes  here  from  all  points  in  the  country,  to  be  invested  either  in 
commerce  or  in  real  estate,  ^ew  railroads ;  new  farms ;  new 
settlers;  new  manufacturing  interests;  new  enterprises  established; 
new  towns  everywhere  in  the  great  northwest — each  add  something 
to  the  business  of  Chicago.     Within  a  year  the  Pacific  railroad  will 


19 

connect  the  trade  of  two  oceans,  and  not  many  years  will  elapse 
before  this  city  will  be  the  distributing  point  to  all  the  country  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  of  the  teas,  spices,  silks  and  nankeens  of 
China  and  the  Indies,  Not  many  years  will  intervene  before  the 
commerce  of  the  gulf  will  come  to  the  lakes,  via  railroads  from 
Galveston,  through  Texas,  the  Indian  Territory  and  Kansas.  The 
supplies  for  the  iron  and  copper  mines  of  the  Lake  Superior  region, 
for  the  trapper  and  fur  trader  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  for 
the  miner  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Range,  for  the  cattle  breeder  of 
Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  for  the  farmer  and  planter  of  the  Texas 
coast,  with  the  numberless  interests  between  here  and  these  far  off 
points,  will  go  out  from  this  great  seat  of  commerce,  and  bring 
back  in  exchange  the  varied  products  of  a  country  as  large  as 
Europe  itself.  Nature  and  not  man  have  predestined  Chicago 
to  be  the  great  inland  city  of  the  world. 

It  may  seem  chimerical  to  make  the  statement,  but  the  boy  is 
already  born  who  will  see  an  ocean  ship  coming  to  the  lakes 
through  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  discharging  her  cargo  at  this  port, 
take  on  board  another  cargo  of  the  products  of  this  great  Missis- 
sippi valley  and  sail  direct  for  Canton,  via  a  ship  canal  to  the 
Mississippi  river,  thence  westward  through  the  Gulf  to  the  Isthmus 
of  Darien,  then  through  another  ship  canal  to  the  Paciiic  Ocean, 
and  the  time  will  come  when  the  telegraph  will  report  to  the 
Board  of  Trade  in  this  city  the  price  of  wheat  in  Japan,  as 
regularly  as  it  now  reports  the  rates  of  the  Liverpool  market. 

A  WORD  TO  YOUNG  MEN. 

If  you  expect  to  make  this  city  your  place  of  business,  then 
make  your  plans  for  the  future.  See  what  the  ratio  of  increase 
has  been  in  population,  in  valuation,  in  trade  and  commerce  in  the 
past,  and  place  yourself  in  a  position  to  reap  some  of  the  benefits 
of  that  increase  in  the  future.     Look  around  you.     Who  are  the 


20 

rich  men  to-day  ?  Those  who  purchased  cheap  lands  near  the  city 
a  few  years  ago.  They  were  laughed  at  then  and  told  that  they 
had  sunk  their  investments.  The  result  has  proved  who  were 
right  in  their  opinions.  The  same  thing  can  be  done  now  with 
more  certainty  than  at  the  time  it  was  done  by  those  who  made 
fortunate  purchases.  Not  in  the  same  place  where  they  made 
purchases,  it  is  true,  but  the  map  of  the  city  will  not  always 
remain  as  it  is.  Suppose  that  the  population  of  Chicago  a  quarter 
of  a  century  hence  is  one  million,  where  will  the  city  limits  be 
then  ?  What  will  be  the  value  of  points  now  within  the  reach  of 
any  young  man  of  good  habits  and  energy  ?  As  the  city  increases 
the  suburbs  will  be  nearer  the  city  and  more  valuable.  Look 
around  New  York  for  a  radius  of  forty  miles.  Property  within 
that  radius  has  improved  by  as  rapid  a  percentage  as  in  the  city 
itself.  There  are  fewer  suburban  villages  around  Chicago  in 
proportion  to  its  population  and  trade  than  any  city  in  the  Union. 
There  has  been  a  natural  cause  for  this  in  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
city,  but  the  time  has  come  when  cheap,  comfortable  homes  must 
be  sought  in  the  suburbs.  The  ease  and  rapidity  with  which 
May  wood  can  be  reached,  its  high  land  and  fine  scenery,  will  make 
it  in  a  few  years  one  of  the  choicest  localities  for  residences. 

EAILWAY  TRAINS 

Now  run  so  as  to  accommodate  residents  in  the  most  ample  manner. 
The  trains  inward  bound,  in  the  morning,  give  the  choice  of  hours 
to  reach  the  city,  and  in  the  evening  the  outward  trains  leave 
at  4,  5  and  6  o'clock.  Intermediate  trains  during  the  day,  each 
way  ajfford  ample  accommodation.  Residents  can  come  in  on  the 
the  half  past  six  evening  train  to  attend  theatres  or  lectures  in 
the  city,  and  return  on  the  eleven  o'clock  train,  and  thus,  none  of 
the  advantages  and  pleasures  of  the  city  need  be  lost  from  a  resi- 
dence at  May  wood. 


21 
FIYE  TEAKS'  TIME. 

Thus  has  it  been  attempted  to  show  some  of  the  inducements 
to  make  investments  in  Chicago,  and  in  Maywood,  a  small  but 
integral  part  in  the  future  of  the  city. 

Time  will  decide  whether  the  advantages  have  been  overdrawn. 
The  company  are  prepared  to  make  liberal  arrangements  with 
parties  who  desire  to  settle  and  build  at  Maywood.  To  those  who 
will  build,  and  improve  the  property  bought  within  two  years,  the 
company  will  sell,  giving  five  full  years'  time  for  payment,  without 
any  intermediate  payment,  either  of  principal  or  interest.  To  such 
parties,  lots  will  be  ofiered  so  cheaply,  that  they  can  hardly  fail  to 
increase  largely  upon  their  hands. 

Parties  desiring  simply  to  invest,  without  improving  the 
property,  will  not  be  able  to  make  satisfactory  arrangements  with 
the  company,  as  the  policy  will  be  to  keep  the  lots  unless  they  are 
to  be  improved.  By  pursuing  this  idea,  those  who  do  buy  and 
build  will  be  much  better  protected,  than  if  large  amounts  of 
unimproved  property  were  held  by  outside  parties  at  high  figures. 
To  build  up  a  thriving  village  is  the  aim  of  the  company,  and  they 
believe  it  possible  with  the  proper  efibrts.  Parties  who  have 
already  purchased  for  their  own  homes,  have  contracted  to  erect 
something  over  seventy  houses,  all  to  be  completed  by  !N"ov.  1, 1870. 
Thus,  with  what  the  company  and  original  stockholders  will  build, 
over  a  hundred  houses  are  provided  for  within  two  years,  and  it  is 
deemed  an  auspicious  beginning. 

MAPS,  INFOKMATIO^,  &c. 

Full  information  can  be  obtained  at  the  office  of  the  company, 
where  maps,  plans  and  drawings  can  be  seen.  Parties  are  respect- 
fully invited  to  call. 

W.  T.  NICHOLS,  President, 

No.  15  Meth.  Church  Blocks  Chicago. 


C 


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